Saturday, December 25, 2010

I used to crochet fast. Then one evening, while watching a mindless TV show, I realized that I had crocheted a whole round on a large granny blanket without even thinking. ??? Now wait a minute - If I didn't realize it, then how could I possibly enjoy it? That was when I decided to slow down and actually enjoy crocheting my pretty yarns into pretty items. Placemats, dishcloths, potholders, pillows, blankets. I enjoy them more when I can actually remember crocheting them :)

Friday, December 24, 2010

Time to roll more scrap yarn - this one will be a scrappy granny. I enjoy winding the yarn tidbits into a ready-to-crochet yarn cake - about as much as crocheting with it. All the colors of the rainbow in one. (this scrap yarn cake weighs 9 oz.) :)

P.S. I have a U-nitt TH7065 yarn winder. I bought it on Ebay a little while back. If you use a yarn winder to wind your scraps together, start with the smallest scrap - if you hand roll your scraps together, start with the largest scrap. :)

Friday, December 17, 2010

I crocheted these cute little ornaments over the last couple of afternoons. I still need to decorate the wreath with some little red dots - beads, paint, something, I don't know - I have to see what I have. :)

Wreath

- knit-cro-sheen- 1 1/2" diameter plastic ring- sz. 1 steel hook

Rnd 1: Sc around plastic ring to completely cover - make sure you end up with an even number of sc's. Join with a sl st to 1st sc.

Friday, December 10, 2010

I've crocheted countless afghans - sometimes I call them blankets. I have no idea why. I was thinking that maybe it was because of their size - medium ones are afghans, larger ones are blankets. But I refer to baby ones as blankets most of the time though. What is your preference? :)

Here's an updated picture of my squircle blanket. I added 2 more rows.

Sunday, December 5, 2010

Christmas decorating has started in my house. This pretty little tree is in my crochet room. The white tree and the two pots were purchased from The Dollar Tree. The two pots are glued together and the tree is permanently affixed in the pot with plaster of paris. Most of the ornaments are the clear glass ones purchased at Joann Fabrics that I have either added paint, glitter or ribbons to the inside. I crocheted the little side tree and the doily is the CAL doily from crochet galore's blog. :)

Thursday, December 2, 2010

It sat for a little while in my crochet room waiting for a little more scraps. I finished it off about 2 nights ago. I crocheted it with various scraps of worsted weight acrylics - RHSS, Bernat, Vanna's, and such - and a J hook. It measures 45" point to point.

I just love the way the colors look when they're all mixed up like that. :)

Sunday, November 21, 2010

**This pattern was inspired by (and permission given by) Aggie May (Colleen) from Crochetville.**

**I have only worked this pattern up to the 21st round - it measures 26" x 34".**

**This baby blankie was crocheted with Red Heart's 'Peruvian Print' - it was crocheted for a boy. As with any of your projects - you can choose any color that you would like.**

For this blankie I used: 12 ounces of 4-ply worsted weight yarn and a "J" hookNotes:v-st = dc, ch 2, dcshell = 2 dc, ch 2, 2 dcDirections:Rnd 1: Ch 29, 4 dc in 4th ch from hook. Dc in next 24 chs, 5 dc in next ch. Now working on opposite side of ch, dc in next 24 chs. Join with a sl st to top of ch 3.Rnd 2: Ch 3, dc in same st. 2 dc in each of next 4 dc. Dc in next 24 dc. 2 dc in each of next 5 dc. Dc in next 24 dc. Join as before. Rnd 3: Ch 5, dc in same st. Skip next dc. *v-st in next dc, skip next dc. Repeat from * 3 more times. *skip next dc, 2 dc in next dc. Repeat from * 11 more times. (Skip next dc, v-st in next dc) 5 times. (Skip next dc, 2 dc in next dc) 12 times. Skip next dc, join with a sl st to 3rd ch of beginning ch 5. Rnd 4: Sl st into ch 2 space, (ch 3, dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in same space. Shell in next 4 v-sts. *skip next 2 dc, 2 dc in next dc, ch 2, 2 dc in next dc. Repeat from * 5 more times. Skip next 2 dc, shell in next 5 v-sts. *skip next 2 dc, 2 dc in next dc, ch 2, 2 dc in next dc. Repeat from * 5 more times. Skip last 2 sts and join with a sl st to top of beginning ch 3.

Rnd 5: Sl st into next dc, ch 3, shell in shell, dc in next dc, skip next 2 dc. *Dc in next dc, shell in shell, dc in next dc, skip next 2 dc. Repeat from * 3 more times. Ch 1, shell in next 6 shells. Skip next 3 dc, ch 1. *Dc in next dc, shell in shell, dc in next dc, skip next 2 dc. Repeat from * 4 more times. Ch 1, join as before.Rnd 6: Sl st in next dc, ch 3, dc in next dc, v-st in shell, dc in next 2 dc. *Skip next 2 dc, dc in next 2 dc, v-st in shell, dc in next 2 dc. Repeat from * 3 more times. Ch 1, shell in next 6 shells. Skip next 3 dc, ch 1, dc in next 2 dc, v-st in shell, dc in next 2 dc, skip next 2 dc, dc in next 2 dc, v-st in shell, dc in next 2 dc. Repeat from * 3 more times. Ch 1, skip next 3 dc, shell in next 6 shells. Ch 1, join as before.For the pattern: repeat Rnd 5 three times and then Rnd 6 once increasing the number of dc along both sides of each ripple as necessary.(The ripple points will be shell, shell, shell and then v-st)

Wednesday, November 17, 2010

I think I've got this figured out - if you find any problems, please let me know.

**This pattern was inspired by Aggie May (Colleen) from Crochetville.**

***I think that this oval ripple pattern is only good for a placemat. I've been thinking (and RoseRed from Crochetville made mention) that the middle should be a lot longer to be able to retain the oval shape for an afghan. I will come up with a longer oval ripple in the next couple of days and post it here. :)

--The pictured placemat is 10 rounds and approximately 15" x 12 1/2".

I used: 4-ply worsted weight yarn a "J" hook

Notes:

v-st = dc, ch 2, dcshell = 2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc

Directions:

Rnd 1: Ch 13, 4 dc in 4th ch from hook. Dc in next 8 chs, 5 dc in next ch. Now working on opposite side of ch, dc in next 8 chs. Join with a sl st to top of ch 3. (26 dc)

Rnd 2: Ch 3, dc in same st. 2 dc in each of next 4 dc. Dc in next 8 dc. 2 dc in each of next 5 dc. Dc in next 8 dc. Join as before. (36 dc)

Rnd 3: Ch 5, dc in same st. Skip next dc. * v-st in next dc, skip next dc. Repeat from * around. Join with a sl st to 3rd ch of beginning ch 5. (18 v-sts)

Rnd 4: Sl st into ch 2 space, (ch 3, dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in same space. Shell in next 4 v-sts. *Dc in next v-st ch 2 space, dc in next dc, ch 2, dc in next dc, dc in next v-st ch 2 space. Repeat from * 1 more time. --these 2 groups are now called shells-- Shell in next 5 v-sts. $Dc in next v-st ch 2 space, dc in next dc, ch 2, dc in next dc, dc in next v-st ch 2 space. Repeat from $ 1 more time. --these 2 groups are now called shells-- Join with a sl st to top of ch 3.

Rnd 5: Sl st in next dc, ch 3, shell in shell, dc in next dc, skip next 2 dc. *Dc in next dc, shell in shell, dc in next dc, skip next 2 dc. Repeat from * around. Join as before.

Rnd 6: Sl st in next dc, ch 3, dc in next dc, v-st in shell, dc in next 2 dc, skip next 2 dc. *Dc in next 2 dc, v-st in shell, dc in next 2 dc, skip next 2 dc. Repeat from * around. Join as before.

Rnd 7: Sl st in next dc, ch 3, dc in next dc, shell in v-st, dc in next 2 dc, skip next 2 dc. *Dc in next 2 dc, shell in v-st, dc in next 2 dc, skip next 2 dc. Repeat from * around. Join as before.

Repeat Rnds 6 & 7 increasing 1 dc along both sides of each ripple each time you repeat Rnd 6.

Saturday, November 13, 2010

I finished my doily blanky last night. I crocheted it with Sensations Rainbow Classic - color is blue & white stripe - and I used a "J" hook. It measures 24" across. I think I'll give it to one of my great-nieces to use as a doll blanky.

and she has posted her November doily pattern. It's a very pretty pattern and I immediately felt (sp ?) the need to start crocheting one. I think this pattern will make a very nice blanky so I am using Sensations Rainbow Classic - color is blue-white stripe - and a J hook. Thanks so much for sharing your pattern glor. :)

Thursday, November 4, 2010

Went into Michael's Tuesday afternoon while my husband went into Lowe's. This is what I got. 3 skeins of yarn for my squircles and version 2 hexagons, 3 t-shirts to add fabric to, a new notebook to keep all the crochet ideas and a small container of black buttons. Yay! :)

Saturday, October 30, 2010

Last week I hurt my hand at work - I went to the Dr. yesterday morning and he said that I have either popped a tendon or tore a muscle. All I have to do is keep it wrapped and take Aleeve for the pain. My hand really doesn't hurt all that much, but it sure is cutting into my crochet time - it's tricky trying to hold onto my crochet hook.

Monday, October 18, 2010

I've been admiring everyone's granny tissue box covers - they're all so colorful. Michelle from: http://theroyalsisters.blogspot.com/very kindly shared her pattern. She has the tutorial for the "Granny Tissue Box" posted in the right hand column of her blog.

I decided that I would like to have a cube tissue box cover instead of a rectangle tissue box cover and this is what I came up with. It will look pretty sitting on the desk in my crochet room. :)

Saturday, October 16, 2010

Here's my doily up to Rnd 13. So far - so good. I have found out one thing though - I do not like to do triple crochets. They were such a pain in my rear. The doily is coming out real pretty though, so I guess it's worth it. :)

Monday, October 11, 2010

Sunday, October 10, 2010

I finished the 4th row of my hex 2 afghan last night and started on the 5th row. I am enjoying the look of the different colors - but I'm not too sure about the pink border. Sometimes when I look at it - I like it and then sometimes when I look at it - I don't. Hmmmmmm - strange (I always love pink). :)

Saturday, October 9, 2010

I bought this cute sunflower cup (it's a large one) at the thrift store for only 69 cents last Thursday. I didn't notice it had a crack until I brought it home. Rats. What to do? What to do? Well - plant a cactus in it - that's what. It's now residing at my kitchen window. :)

This cool puzzle only cost $1.00 - can you believe it? I got it at the Dollar Tree. It measures 7" x 18". My son and I put it together and it only took a few hours. Of course, my favorite car is the pink one. :)

Friday, October 8, 2010

Glor from Crochet Galore - http://glor-crochetgalore.blogspot.com/ - is hosting a thread doily crochet-along. Hop on over to her blog to check it out and join in - it'll be fun. I've started mine this morning. :)